The Vision and Creed of Piers Ploughman, Volume 2

Name: The Vision and Creed of Piers Ploughman, Volume 2
Author: Langland, William

Langland, William

Christian pilgrims and pilgrimages -- Poetry

And some to ryde, and to recovere
  That wrongfully was wonne;
  He wissed hem to wynne it ayein
  Thorugh wightnesse of handes,
  And fecchen it fro false men
  With folvyles lawes.

    And some he lered to lyve
  In longynge to ben hennes,                             13450
  In poverte and in penaunce,
  To preie for alle cristene.
  And alle he lered to be lele,
  And ech a craft love oother;
  And forbad hem alle debat,
  That noon were among hem.
  "Though some be clenner than some,
  Ye se wel," quod Grace,
  {411}
  "That he that useth the faireste craft,
  To the fouleste I kouthe have put hym.                 13460
  Thynketh alle," quod Grace,
  "That grace cometh of my gifte;
  Loketh that no man lakke oother,
  But loveth alle as bretheren.

    "And who that moost maistries kan
  Be myldest of berynge;
  And crouneth Conscience kyng,
  And maketh Craft youre stiward,
  And after Craftes conseil
  Clotheth yow and fede.                                 13470
  For I make Piers the Plowman
  My procuratour and my reve,
  And registrer to receyve,
  _Redde quod debes._
  My prowor and my plowman
  Piers shal ben on erthe,
  And for to tilie truthe
  A teeme shal he have."

    Grace gaf Piers a teeme
  Of foure grete oxen.                                   13480
  That oon was Luk, a large beest,
  And a lowe chered;
  And Mark, and Mathew the thridde,
  Myghty beestes bothe;
  And joyned to hem oon Johan,
  Moost gentil of alle,
  The pris neet of Piers Plow,
  Passynge all othere.

    And Grace gaf Piers
  Of his goodnesse foure stottes;                        13490
  Al that hise oxen eriede,
  {412}
  Thei to harewen after.
  Oon highte Austyn,
  And Ambrose another,
  Gregori the grete clerk,
  And Jerom the goode.
  Thise foure the feith to teche
  Folweth Piers teme,
  And harewede in an hand while
  Al holy Scripture,                                     13500
  With two harewes that thei hadde,
  An oold and a newe.
  _Id est, vetus testamentum et novum._

    And Grace gaf greynes,
  The cardynal vertues,
  And sew hem in mannes soule,
  And sithen he tolde hir names.
  _Spiritus prudentiæ._
  The firste seed highte;
  And who so ete that,                                   13510
  Ymagynen he sholde
  Er he deide any deeth,
  Devyse wel the ende;
  And lerned men a ladel bugge
  With a long stele,
  And caste for to kepe a crokke
  To save the fatte above.

    The seconde seed highte
  _Spiritus temperantiæ._
  He that ete of that seed                               13520
  Hadde swich a kynde,
  Sholde nevere mete ne muchel drynke
  Make hym to swelle,
  Ne no scornere ne scolde
  Out of skile hym bringe,
  {413}
  Ne wynnynge ne wele
  Of worldliche richesse,
  Waste word of ydelnesse
  Ne wikked speche moeve;
  Sholde no curious clooth                               13530
  Comen on his rugge,
  Ne no mete in his mouth
  That maister Johan spicede.

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The Vision and Creed of Piers Ploughman, Volume 2

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